New Acta Power Cube Launched at Hannover Messe

Press release

7 April 2014

Acta S.p.A.

(“Acta” or “the Company”)

Acta Power Cube launched at Hannover Messe

Acta S.p.A. (AIM: ACTA), the clean energy products company is delighted to announce the launch of its new Hydrogen Battery™ product range, the Acta Power Cube, which will be on display at the Hannover Messe technology trade fair from today until 11 April 2014.

The Acta Power Cube has been developed under the Company’s collaboration agreement with ReliOn Inc (“ReliOn”), one of the largest fuel cell manufacturers in the world specialising in back-up power systems, announced on 13 February 2014. The Acta Power Cube is a compact, self-recharging fuel cell back-up power system designed for mass-market applications in railway signalling, telecommunications, transportation, security and government sectors, such as the TETRA two-way radio system. Acta and ReliOn believe that these applications represent a large addressable market and have already identified a number of commercial opportunities for sales of the system in the North American and SE Asian markets.

The Acta Power Cube is based on Acta’s patented electrolyser technology for on-site hydrogen generation, eliminating the need for hydrogen refuelling, and incorporates the ReliOn E-200 fuel cell for high reliability and easy maintenance. It can be powered from renewable energy for off-grid applications, or connected to the electricity grid where available.

The product range has a power output from 200W to 1,100W, and can be fed by tap water, rain water or air condensation. It is available in indoor or outdoor versions with remote system management software and is suitable for roof-top, urban, rural or remote installation.

Paolo Bert, Chief Executive Officer, Acta, commented:

“This product has been designed to address the substantial opportunity for small-scale back-up power and energy storage systems in applications where traditional battery performance is unsatisfactory. Following one year from the launch of the Acta Power we believe that this new product range will accelerate the take-up of fuel cell products in smaller, high-volume energy storage applications.”

Joe Blanchard, Chief Operating Officer, ReliOn, commented:

“We are excited to expand the reach of the E-200 through the cooperation with Acta. The E-200 and the new Acta Power Cube address the low power market segment being driven by the growth of remote and distributed technologies requiring reliable back-up power.”

The new Acta Power Cube is launched today at the Hannover Messe, the world’s largest technology exhibition, in Hannover on 7-11 April, where it will be jointly promoted by Acta and ReliOn at Acta’s stand, Hall 27, Stand C75.

Acta S.p.A. is a developer and manufacturer of a range of clean energy products. Based on its world-leading expertise in alkaline membrane technology, the Company has developed a unique range of low-cost, compact hydrogen generators (electrolysers) which produce pure, dry compressed hydrogen at high efficiency from renewable or grid power.

In April 2013 Acta launched the Acta Power, an integrated electrolyser and fuel cell system for use in back-up power and renewable energy storage applications. Best understood as a “Hydrogen Battery”, the system converts energy from renewable or grid power when it is available and stores it in the form of hydrogen, and then converts the hydrogen back to electrical power when needed due to grid black-out or lack of solar / wind power.

This system has extensive application as a back-up power unit for telecommunications base stations, where it competes on cost against traditional battery and diesel solutions, while offering a cleaner solution and better service. In particular, the use of rainwater and the generation of hydrogen on-site removes the cost and logistical barriers of fuel delivery, while also avoiding the theft risk associated with diesel, methanol and battery systems.

The supply of fuel cell back-up power systems for telecommunications base stations represents a large and fast-growing market, especially in extensively bad-grid and off-grid locations such as in Asia and Africa. Battery sales to the Chinese telecoms industry are currently valued at $4.7 bn to $7.8 bn per annum (Fuel Cell Today, China).

Acta holds a portfolio of patents and patent applications on its key technologies, manufactures its products through a combination of production, component subcontracting, and final product assembly and quality control, and has established distribution channels through partnerships in China, India, SE Asia, Australia, Africa, Middle East, Germany, UK, USA and South America.

Acta S.p.A. is based near Pisa, Italy, and was admitted to trading on AIM in October 2005.

ReliOn’s continuous innovation in core technology has made it a leader in the development and marketing of modular, scalable fuel cell products for customers seeking solutions to critical backup power applications. With more than 1,800 sites serving customer equipment in 45 U.S. states and 36 countries, ReliOn customers enjoy the benefits of high reliability, low operating costs and easy maintenance. ReliOn products are tested or certified to stringent standards from CSA, UL, CE, Telcordia NEBS and China TTL Labs.